Digital age demands meeting law update

Concerning the Times’ editorial, “Clarify rules on taping meetings, on March 16:

New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act, while sound in intention, is
lacking in the mechanics of open government in the 21st century. If
we’re going to provide true government openness and transparency in the
digital age, we need to address the gaps in the state’s public meetings
law when it comes to emerging technologies.

The Times’ editorial regarding the decision by the Gloucester
County freeholder board to allow citizen videotaping with caveats (to
turn over a copy of the tape to the county) hits the nail on the head
when it comes to the failings in the public meetings law. All public
citizens, regardless of political affiliation or intended use, should
have the right to record public meetings, without added stipulations or
requirements from a governing body.

I don’t believe the freeholder board was intentionally trying to deny
the public its open government rights with the added rules. I do
believe, though, that the law needs updating to clarify exactly what a
government entity’s responsibility to transparency is.

I’ve sponsored S-1351 to provide a much-needed update to New Jersey’s
Open Public Meetings Act. The bill would address the confusion over a
public citizen’s right to record public meetings, would allow citizens
to access meeting minutes and agendas on the Internet in a timely
manner, and would prohibit public officials from sidestepping the
spirit of the Open Public Meetings Act by communicating electronically
with other officials or staff during public meetings.

If the promise of open, transparent government is going to be realized
in the Internet age, we need to bring the provisions of the Open Public
Meetings Act into the modern day. S-1351 would modernize the law and
eliminate the gray areas under the current act, which lead to confusion
and conflict between the public and their representatives.

I urge my fellow lawmakers to support this legislation so that the
accountability and transparency owed to the public would not be
hindered by outdated state laws.